Blood Pressure

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure refers to systemic arterial blood pressure, which is the pressure in the large arteries delivering blood to body parts other than the lungs, such as the brachial artery (in the arm). The pressure of the blood in other vessels is lower than the arterial pressure. Blood pressure values are universally stated in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg),

Normal ranges for blood pressure:
Systolic between 90 and 140 mm Hg
Diastolic between 50 and 90 mm Hg
Antihypertensive medication might be withheld when the blood pressure is less than 150-160 over 100-110, while the patient is off medications and when there is no organ (like kidney) damage.

What is High Blood Pressure?
A person's blood pressure is considered high when the readings are
greater than 140 mm Hg systolic (the top number in the reading) or
greater than 90 mm Hg diastolic (the bottom number).

High blood pressure, or hypertension, contributes to the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.

What Are the Effects of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?
Although many pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies without serious problems, high blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Women with high blood pressure are more likely to have certain complications during pregnancy than those with normal blood pressure. However, some women develop high blood pressure while they are pregnant (often called gestational hypertension).

The effects of high blood pressure range from mild to severe. High blood pressure can harm the mother's kidneys and other organs. It can cause low birth weight and early delivery if not treated properly. In the most serious cases, the mother develops preeclampsia, or 'toxemia of pregnancy', which can threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus.

How Can Women with High Blood Pressure Prevent Problems During Pregnancy?
If you are thinking about having a baby and you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor or nurse first. Taking steps to control your blood pressure before and during pregnancy (and getting regular prenatal care) go a long way toward ensuring your well-being and your baby's health.

Before becoming pregnant:

Be sure your blood pressure is under control. Lifestyle changes such as limiting your salt intake, participating in regular physical activity and losing weight if you are overweight can be helpful.
Discuss with your doctor how hypertension might affect you and your baby during pregnancy. Find out what you can do to prevent or lessen possible problems.
If you take medicine for your blood pressure, ask your doctor whether you should change the amount you take or stop taking them during pregnancy. Experts currently recommend avoiding angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists during pregnancy; other blood pressure medications may be OK for you to use. Do not, however, stop or change your medicines unless your doctor tells you to do so.

While you are pregnant:

Obtain regular prenatal medical care.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter medications you are taking or are thinking about taking.

Comments: Blood Pressure

Comments 1 to 22 of about 22.
1

thirdtimeround - 394 days ago.
I am thirdtimeround. On Aldomet again. Was on for 2nd baby. He turned out absolutely gorgeous. I think the trick with BP, you have to find time to relax 'in your mind'. Exercise helps too. I have also increased my magnesium and calcium- meant to lower BP. My readings are manageable now. I am start of 7 weeks pg. Long way to go. Need to have BP well under control because it only gets higher. I was induced with 2 previous and most probably this one too. Aldomet and Labetelol are both safe- I was on both with 2nd baby.

salsa2572@hotmail.com - 656 days ago.
I always have quite low blood pressure, and at my last ob apt she told me to make sure to drink lots of fluids, does anyone else have this? I think that I am still in the optimal range, but I am going to keep an eye on it

mrbb22 - 719 days ago.
Ok, I have been having HBP since about 24 weeks, i am now 30 weeks, my doctor decided to put me on Metoprolol now because my pulse is also very high....has anyone been put on metoprolol? I am literally terrified to take anything. I was scared to take tylenol, and I know thats ok to take while pregnant

asjl - 724 days ago.
I'm 33 weeks, started having BP issues at 32 weeks. Now I am being monitored very closely and getting ultrasounds weekly to ensure baby is okay. My dr will be delivering at 37 weeks. She said that if my BP goes up higher, she will deliver sooner. Sunday, I was tested for preeclampsia with blood work and a quick urine test. Yesterday i did another blood test and today am doing the 24 hour urine test. I'm also on modified bed rest for the rest of teh pregnancy...in bed at least hours of every day. I have a 2 and 3 year old, so my MIL will be coming this weekend to help, and she will be staying till Emily is born. ugh, i never had issues like this before, i'm pretty nervous...

crazyfornumber3 - 800 days ago.
07 babe..I would. Are you on meds now?

crazyfornumber3 - 800 days ago.
So after a few people mentioned Ateonol was thought to be maybe unsafe I got concerned and read the pamphlet that comes with the meds and it said 'can cause harm to the fetus' I trust my ob and thought well maybe they gave me the wrong meds so I called my OB and she assured me it's safe. She said that the only thing it can do is cause the baby to be 1/2 a pound smaller then it would normally be but she would make sure to monitor the growth and change meds if needed but to make sure I take it. I also talked to the UW clinic I'm going to in 2 weeks and they said what I'm on is perfect right now..Dawn... hope this helps

lin - 801 days ago.
my best suggestion is to get a machine for at home. i was always so nervous after one high reading that I worked myself up so badly and they were always high. My machine at home is preventing me from being on meds this time around because my doctor trusts my low readings at home and has discovered i have white coat syndrome (anxiety resulting in high readings). My first pregnancy i was put on labetolol my second i delivered before i was put on meds. Hope things work out for you, sucks to have to worry about stupid crap like this when your trying to enjoy a pregnancy. But if the ob prescribes you a med its very likely safe, i wouldnt worry about that. Good luck. Hope your urine comes back clear, mine never did show protein. I just had pregnancy induced hyptertension.

crazyfornumber3 - 801 days ago.
Dawn...I'm on Ateonol too. My ob prescribed it so I'm assuming it's safe..?

crazyfornumber3 - 801 days ago.
Just found out I have High BP. Top number was 145-150 and bottom was 92-94 (did it twice). They stared my on a beta blocker ( i forgot the name ) and I took my first pill today. 3 months pg and already have this..yikes. Anyways I go to a specialist and have to pee in a jug for 24 hours and then get more bloodwork. Anyone have any comments?

lin - 866 days ago.
I would...my doctor gave me strict instructions to call her if the bottom number ever went over 95. Especially if its consistently over. She will probably just put you on Labetolol which is safe for pregnancy.

07babe - 866 days ago.
31 weeks and My blood pressure is bouncing up and down, at my last doctor appoinment the top number was in the 140's range and bottom number was above the 90's range, Now it has been bouncing since then, but my top number has been stayin under 140 sometimes but the lower number is staying near 98.. should i call my doctor?

lin - 874 days ago.
Anyone else have this problem? I am pregnant with number three and worried this will happen again. Pregnancy seems fine until about 35 weeks and my bp starts to slowly rise, baby is taken early due to high bp that they cant bring down, never pre e just high bp. Then it goes normal instantly after birth but the day my milk comes in it spikes and is really hard to get down again. I am sent home on meds and have to wean off. First pregnancy took only a few weeks to wean off and the second was three months. My doctors say this is rare, that most times hb is solved within 6 weeks post partum and that i must be predisposed to having high bp....yet its so low right now =...106/60. I dont want to have to deal with high bp my entire life....just hoping its pregnancy related and this time around it doesnt take 3 months to go down...or doesnt spike at all for that matter.

adrianne99 - 884 days ago.
I was diagnosed with High BP about 4 months ago...been on atenolol 50mg everyday...found out I was pregnant 2 weeks ago...I am now almost 7 weeks...I was taken off atenolol and put on the Aldonet....It is safe for baby and me...so I am happy! So far so good! I hope we can all enjoy this pregnancy without having to worry about the BP! XOXO

samojo - 1006 days ago.
I have chronic hypertension (dx ealier this year). I was on ridaq, but since I found out I'm PG (I'm 7 weeks now), my caregiver gave me a prescrip for Aldonet. Any one of you ladies on this? I googled and saw that it's safe.

ginamc - 1044 days ago.
i am due 7/19 at todays visit (friday 7/16) sent me into hopital because of high blood pressure. What could this mean?????

Bonkers - 1187 days ago.
Hi Everyone! I just found out yesterday that I am 11 weeks pregnant and had very high blood pressure. I have never had high blood pressure before but I miscarried in November and have been a nervous wreck since I took my HPT over a month ago. They have me doing a 24 hour urine sample and have to go back in a week to get my BP taken again. Has anyone else out there had anything similar and if so any advice for me. Now I am nervous about my BP. Wish I could just enjoy this pregnancy.

dawn2374 - 1196 days ago.
My dr changed my meds to 'ateonol' (sp) When I google it, it says its harmful to take when pregnant yet the dr put me on it and the pharmacist knows I'm pregnant and didnt say anything. Confuses me!

jamiekid - 1205 days ago.
NonhlanhlaM, it can be. It was when I was pregnant with my daughter (see my birth story for more details). Rest lots and when in doubt see your doctor.

lourds - 1223 days ago.
KristinaS2010, go see your high risk doctor. Congratulations!

KristinaS2010 - 1224 days ago.
Hi ladies, My dr recently changed my BP meds and my pressure has been running higher than normal for me. 150 to 160 over 90 to 98. My dr says he is not worred until the bottom number hits 100. Has anyone else had this problem and if so what did your dr say. I have been on meds for 8 years or so and my pressure has never been this high. I thought about calling my high risk dr. Should I or should I just trust my regular OB/GYN?

NonhlanhlaM - 1320 days ago.
Girls is headach one of the symptoms of HBP?

McGill31 - 1597 days ago.
I found out on Jan 7, 2009 when I went for my check up that starting this monday and thursday I will have to have a Fetal Non-Stress Test (NST) twice a week for a while. The reason the doctor said is becaue of my high blood pressure. She said its nothing to it, but I am still a little worried about it. This is my first baby and I want him to be fine. She said it will keep track with his heart rate and movements and all I have to do is wear some kind of belt for an hour that records everything. She also told me my blood count is a little low as well. I wish all of you well.